West Bengal, located in the Eastern part of the country, is a strategically important state as
it borders three neighbouring countries – Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. It covers an area of
34,267 square km and ranks 13th in the country area-wise.
West Bengal Borders Three Countries
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The total population of the state is 91,276,115, consisting of 46,809,027 males and
44,467,088 females with a sex ratio of 947. It is the 4th most populous state in the country
and has a growth rate of 13.84 percent. The literacy rate is a 77.08 percent.
The state is suffering from three major afflictions.
Illegal Immigration and the Changing Demography
In 2016, Kiren Rijiju, the then Minister of State for Home Affairs, told India's parliament:
“There are about 20 million illegal immigrants from Bangladesh in India.” The number has
since increased considerably. Rohingya immigrants constitute another big illegal group. Many
influential locals act as agents and facilitators. They give them temporary shelter and provide
fraudulently obtained Indian identity documents. It is a thriving business with the booty being
shared by all.
Whereas a large number of illegal immigrants are smuggled to designated masjids in other
states, most illegal immigrants stay on in West Bengal as they find the environment very
accommodative. The Muslim population in the State has increased from 19.5 percent in 1951
and 20.5 percent in 1971 to 27.01 percent now. They form a strong and decisive vote bank.
Government staff, police officials and the political workers ensure their seamless assimilation.
It has caused demographic imbalance in West Bengal. This unprecedented increase in the
immigrants’ population in certain areas of the state bordering Bangladesh has become a grave
threat to the security of the country.
In
Descending
Order
District Muslim Population by
Percentage
1 Murshidabad 66.27
2 Malda 51.27
3 Uttar Dinajpur 49.92
4 Birbhum 37.06
5 South 24 Parganas 35.57
6 Nadia 26.76
7 Howrah 26.20
8 North 24 Parganas 25.82
9 Cooch Bihar 25.54
10 Purba Burdwan 25.16
11 Dakshin Dinajpur 24.63
12 Kolkata 20.60
Demography: Districts with Significant Muslim Population
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Due to organised crime and violence, many local Hindus have been forced to flee from their
homes. To escape harassment and persecution, they are forced to sell their properties, farms,
orchards and shops to the immigrants at rock-bottom prices, As most of the local police
officials sympathise with the immigrants and take their cut from them, they decline to help
local Hindus.
In most border areas, the immigrants exercise total control over the local trade and
commerce. They own all commercial levers. Masjids and madrasas have mushroomed with
the receipt of Saudi funds and donations from Kerala, mostly through hawala routes.
Radicalism and fanaticism are rampant. It is often said that another Pakistan is in the making.
Violence and Breakdown of Constitutional Processes
Election time in West Bengal is violence time. Intimidation of the electorate starts from the
day the elections are announced. Different tactics are employed by the political parties to
deter opponents from filing nominations or voting. The whole electoral process turns into a
sham with ‘might-is-right’ ruling the roost.
Election Time Violence
Post-poll violence after the announcement of State Legislative Assembly results in 2021
shocked the whole country. Voters who had voted for the opponent candidates were targeted
and attacked. Many got killed, their houses were burnt and women gang-raped. The may-
hem appeared uncontrollable. Hundreds of families crossed over to Assam to escape attacks.
The Governor had to summon the top police officials. Calcutta High Court and the Central
Government sought detailed reports.
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Take the case of the recent Panchayat Polls. Over 160,000 candidates had filed their
nomination and around one third got elected unopposed. Their domination of the area
generated fear in the minds of likely opponents. They preferred to skip elections rather than
face the wrath of the political goons. The culture of political violence is so rampant that dozens
of lives have been lost, and the local police is unable to ensure law and order. The Calcutta
High Court had to direct the central police forces to handle elections. Even the Supreme Court
concurred.
Apparently, the state of West Bengal is afflicted with electoral violence. It is impossible to
hold fair and just elections. In other words, there is a total break-down of constitutional
processes.
Unbridled Corruption and Smuggling
Indian public has got used to wanton corruption in the political domain. Theft of a few
hundreds of crores has stopped making news. However, the sight of stacks and mountains of
Rs 2,000 bundles in an obscure flat of a Minister’s associate shocked the nation. It was
revealed that the illegal treasure was only a tip of the loot carried out by the alleged Minister
and his staff in the recruitment of teachers in government-sponsored and government-aided
schools. Investigation had earlier been ordered by the Calcutta High Court.
On 26 December 2021, the Centre Government was forced to stop disbursement of funds for
the 100-day job scheme under MGNREGA for malpractices and fund embezzlement by
panchayat office-bearers in collusion with contractors. Estimated outstanding dues of workers
stand at Rs 2,744 crore.
Under PM Grameen Awas Yojana, gross irregularities had been noted. Instead of the persons
entitled for financial assistance for building housing units, the lists finalised by the local
officials had the names of political activists and panchayat post-holders who were already
owning three-storied pucca houses.
State’s Rs 1,900-cr ‘coal scam’ revealed a devious conspiracy hatched by local bigwigs with
the active connivance of government and security functionaries. The accused fraudulently
misappropriated coal from ECL's leasehold areas and also from the coal stock stacked in the
Railway sidings for sale and supply. The charge sheet filed by CBI has named 41 individuals.
More than 2 million Indian cattle are smuggled to Bangladesh every year. Politicians take the
help of corrupt BSF and state officers to run the racket. Bribes are shared by all. It is estimated
that every head of cattle generates Rs 10,000 as bribe money. Thus, more than Rs 200 crore
of slush money is distributed amongst all the abettors every year.
The above list is not exhaustive. Newer scams are getting unearthed. In addition, Narada
bribery scandal (politicians and officials accepting cash bribes in exchange for providing
unofficial favours to a company) and Saradha chit fund scam (collapse of a Ponzi scheme run
by the Saradha Group), continue to haunt the State.
The Way-out
It is proposed that the state of West Bengal be split into three different entities, as shown in
the map below.
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Map of Proposed Entities
a) Union Territory of Dinajpur – consisting of the districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong,
Cooch Bihar, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Malda and Alipurduar.
b) Union Territory of Nadia – consisting of districts of Murshidabad, Nadia, North 24 Parganas,
South 24 Parganas and Purba Burdwan.
c) State of Bengal – consisting of districts of Birbhum, Paschim Burdwan, Purulia, Bankura,
Hooghly, Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur, Howrah, Jhargram and Kolkata.
The proposed Union Territory of Dinajpur will also include the area of Gorkhaland Territorial
Administration with a population of 8.78 lakh people and spanning an area of 3,304 sq km.
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Area and Population Distribution of Proposed Entities
There are three overriding justifications for the proposed trifurcation.
One, in addition to bordering three countries, West Bengal houses the vulnerable ‘Siliguri
Corridor’, often referred to as the ‘Gateway of Northeast India’. The complete network of road
and rail communications that links the north eastern states to India passes through this 60
km long strip of land that is a mere 22 km wide at its narrowest. A number of important
military stations are located in this area. The corridor provides combat and logistic support to
the troops deployed on the Indo-China border.
The Siliguri Corridor
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Nathu La pass, bordering Tibet, is just 170 km away. Security of the corridor is, thus, of
utmost criticality. It has to be kept secure, both against the external threats and internal
disruptions by the elements inimical to Indian interests. It is, therefore, essential that the
corridor be ruled directly by the Centre.
Two, the inflow of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and Rohingyas continues unabated. Eastern
districts of West Bengal have become the gateway for their entry into India and further
movement to other states. Around 40,000 Rohingya are reportedly living in places as far from
the border as Jammu, Hyderabad and Delhi.
In addition to being a drain on the Indian economy, the illegal immigrants are a potent threat
to Indian security. Most of them have been radicalised and do not believe in secular living. To
them, religion takes precedence over every other consideration, including loyalty to the
country. They are like a dormant volcano that can erupt on the smallest of religious issues
and engulf the whole state of West Bengal, with far-reaching impact on the rest of the country
as well.
As the illegal immigrants constitute a decisive vote bank, political parties are averse to putting
a stop to their ongoing influx. In fact, all support and facilities are provided to them. They are
settled on government/forest lands and provided with identity papers to avail the social
security benefits.
Finally, West Bengal as a state has become a laggard. Industries have been quitting and there
is no new investment. Unemployment is widespread. Infrastructure is crumbling. Gangs of
goons are controlling the countryside and settling their scores with firearms and bombs.
Violence is rampant. In short, there is complete anarchy. The situation is explosive and
beyond the control of the State government. Calcutta High Court has often been forced to
remind the State government of its obligations.
Therefore
Situation in West Bengal is grave and the Centre government has to step in and take charge.
It cannot justify abdication of its responsibility under the excuse of constitutional minutiae.
Challenging circumstances demand drastic remedies. The Centre cannot be a mute spectator
when the state of West Bengal is heading for the precipice. There is a complete breakdown of
the state institutions. It is certainly a tinderbox situation that has the potential of plunging
the country into strife and violence. It has to be nipped immediately – it is already very late.
As suggested above, the only viable solution is to split the state into three separate entities.
Siliguri Corridor is gravely vulnerable to anti-national elements and must be a part of the
union territory. Similarly, areas bordering Bangladesh must be ruled by the Centre directly.
History never remembers those leaders and rulers who pass their tenure in routine
governance. Only bold and dynamic leaders leave their stamp for posterity, as witnessed in
the case of abrogation of Article 370. West Bengal is yet another challenge for the current
leadership. Undoubtedly, it is a tall order, but then, strong measures can never be initiated
by the weak and the timid.
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